RECAP: Blackhawks Fall to Sabres in Overtime, 3-2

The Blackhawks closed out their 2021-22 season with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night, ending the year with a 28-42-12 record.
Dominik Kubalik and Dylan Strome found the back of the net in regulation, with Buffalo tying the game after each. Collin Delia closed out the season in net for the second straight year, stopping 33 of the 36 shots he faced in the loss.

POSTGAME LINKS
GAMECENTER: CHI at BUF
ANALYSIS: Blackhawks Close Out Trying Season with OT Loss in Buffalo
HIGHLIGHTS: Blackhawks at Sabres
GALLERY: Blackhawks at Sabres
STAT OF THE NIGHT: Alex DeBrincat skated in his 82nd game of the year, the only Blackhawks player to appear in every tilt this season. He logged career-highs in assists (37) and points (78) with a helper on the night and tied a career mark with 41 goals.

GAME RECAP

CHI: 1, BUF: 0

2nd - 8:47 - Dominik Kubalik (Alex Vlasic, Tyler Johnson)

After a scoreless opening period, the Blackhawks got on the board midway through the second as rookie Alex Vlasic setup Dominik Kubalik off the rush for his first NHL helper. Tyler Johnson pulled up in the neutral zone and left a puck for the rookie joining the play with speed. Vlasic brought it into the zone and drove wide all the way down to the goal line before putting a pass back into the slot for a Kubalik one-time and a 1-0 lead.

CHI: 1, BUF: 1

3rd - 4:16 - Tage Thompson (Jeff Skinner)

Buffalo got on the board to make it a 1-1 game early in the third. Jeff Skinner collected a puck behind the net, walked out to the corner and slung a quick pass across the crease to Tage Thompson inside the opposite circle. The winger wired a one-timer just inside the near post that Collin Delia couldn't get a shoulder on diving the width of his cage to try and make the stop.

CHI: 2, BUF: 1

3rd - 9:33 - Dylan Strome (Caleb Jones, Alex DeBrincat)

Chicago took the lead back just over five minutes later as Dylan Strome added to his career-high in goals with his 22nd of the season. Strome setup camp in front and redirected home a low, hard Caleb Jones shot pass from the boards, sending the puck over the shoulder of Dustin Tokarski for a 2-1 score.

CHI: 2, BUF: 2

3rd - 14:22 - Owen Power

The Sabres tied the game late off a scramble in the high slot and a shot past Collin Delia through traffic. Owen Power picked up a loose puck that had bounced towards the middle point off a draw and threw a quick wrister towards goal that eluded two Blackhawks blocks and in for a 2-2 score.

CHI: 2, BUF: 3

OT - 2:07 - Casey Middelstadt

Buffalo completed the home comeback with the overtime winner as Casey Middelstadt collected a rebound in front and tapped a backhander past Collin Delia for a 3-2 final.